Best Value on Large Diameter Pipeline Projects by Integrating Design Parameters, Bid Specifications, and Construction Quality Control

Owners constantly face tough decisions when implementing new large diameter pipeline infrastructure projects. Limited capital project budgets and uncertainties in the current economy create additional pressures for Owners to achieve "Best Value" on these large capital projects. These decisions are often influenced by weighing pipeline design parameters and bid specification options during the design phase that directly impact project cost, constructed project quality, operations and maintenance costs, and long-term service life. A key factor in these decisions involves risk and value judgments of the Engineer and Owner. Contractors are ultimately responsible for the completed project quality in accordance with the plans and specifications. In most cases, Contractors are not given much opportunity to innovate or provide value after bidding, because they are required to complete the project as designed for the cost established by a low bid. Ideas integrating design parameters and bid specifications with construction quality control measures are presented for Owners seeking to create efficiencies and cost savings on large capital projects with constrained budgets. Many of the ideas may appear to be common sense or accepted as common practice; however, this paper explores a framework for decision making and an integrated approach to achieve best value considering risks and trade-offs throughout project implementation. This paper presents ideas related to pipeline conveyance projects, but the process can also be applied to other site-specific water resource projects, such as treatment facilities and pumping stations.